Author Archives - Page 20 of 30 - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

Allen, Elanna

Elanna Allen is the author most recently of Pet Dad and Poor Little Guy. She graduated from Brown University and studied animation and illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design. She has designed characters and directed animation for Disney Junior, Nick Jr, and PBS. She lives in New York City with her husband and two boys, and is currently learning to play the ukulele. elannaallen.com

3 Fun Facts

1. Elanna designed characters and directed animation for Disney
2. She lives in New York City with her husband and two boys
3. Elanna is learning to play the ukulele.

Williams, Ismee

Ismée Williams is a pediatric cardiologist who trained and practiced at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City for 15 years. She lives in New York with her husband and three daughters as well as a dog who is commonly mistaken for a muppet. Water in May is her first novel. www.ismeewilliams.com

3 Fun Facts

1. Ismee is a pediatric cardiologist and the book is based on her experience in the field.
2. Her mother is a Cuba immigrant and she was raised by her abuelos, which also informed Mari’s familial relationships in the book
3. Her labradoodle has a larger Instagram following than she does: https://www.instagram.com/redrowandoodle

Lehman, Barbara

Lehman, Barbara

Barbara Lehman was born in Chicago, attended Pratt Institute, and now is based in the Hudson Valley. Her illustrations have been included in exhibitions at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, The Art Institute of Chicago and the Central Children’s Room of the New York Public Library and she has shared her book work with children at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The New York Times bestseller THE RED BOOK was awarded a Caldecott Honor. www.barbaralehmanbooks.com

Awards
Some honors that my books have received: Caldecott Honor, New York Times Bestseller List, Premio Andersen [Italy], ALA Notable books, Junior Library Guild Selections, CCBC Best Books of the Year, Kirkus Best Children’s Books, New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, Parent’s Choice Gold, Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year, The Horn Book Fanfare list.

3 Fun Facts

1. I used to work at a skating pond in high school.
2. I love all pasta shapes.
3. I put catsup on my grilled cheese. No seriously, just try it.

Sales, Leila

Sales, Leila

Leila Sales is the author of six young adult and middle grade novels, including This Song Will Save Your Life, Once Was a Time, and, most recently, If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say. Leila grew up outside of Boston, Massachusetts, and graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of Chicago. Her hobbies include riding her bike, eating chocolate, and sleeping. Leila lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works in children’s book publishing. Follow her @LeilaSalesBooks or at leilasales.com.

3 Fun Facts

1.I type using only two fingers.
2. I did gymnastics for eight years.
3. I can recite the names of every student in my high school class in alphabetical order.

Janowitz, Jessie

Janowitz, Jessie

Jessie Janowitz is the author of the middle grade novels, The Doughnut Fix, the sequel The Doughnut King, and All the Ways to Go. She lives in New York City with her family. www.jessiejanowitz.com

Awards

Both Doughnut books were JLG Selections and Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year. The Doughnut Fix is on seven state lists, a Cybils Finalist, the winner of the Mississippi Children’s Choice Award, and is an Amazon Teacher’s Pick.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love popcorn.
2. My dog’s favorite thing is to hit ping pong balls with his nose.
3. I spent a year inside a high school in France.

Funk, Josh

Josh Funk is a software engineer and the author of books like the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, How to Code a Sandcastle, Dear Unicorn, Dear Dragon, My Pet Feet, the It’s Not a Fairy Tale series, Lost in the Library, and more. His books have sold more than half a million copies worldwide and been translated into a dozen languages. He has presented (and virtually presented) at over 950 schools and libraries in the last decade since his first book was released. For more about Josh, visit joshfunkbooks.com and on social media at @joshfunkbooks.

Awards

A Celebration of You, 2026 *Starred Review* from School Library Journal.
My Pet Feet, 2024-25 Sunshine State Young Readers Award Jr. Title, 2024-25 Young Hoosier Picture Book Award Nominee, 2023 Massachusetts Book Award Must-Read Picture Book, 2023 Official March Book Madness Picture Book Bracket Champion, 2023 Funniest Book for Kids Andie Award Winner (via Anderson’s Bookshops), 2022 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct),2022 August Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) Read This Next! Title.
Dear Unicorn, 2023 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct).
Dear Dragon, 2018-19 Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Show Me Readers Award Nominee, 2018-19 Indiana Library Federation (ILF) Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee, 2017-18 Maine Chickadee Award Nominee, 2017 Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2017 International Literacy Association (ILA) Teacher’s Choice Reading List, 2017 SCBWI New England Crystal Kite Finalist, 2016 *Starred Review* from Kirkus, 2016 Nerdy Book Club Award.
Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, 2016 SCBWI New England Crystal Kite Finalist, 2016 Barnes & Noble National Storytime Selection on 1/2/16,
2015 Nerdy Book Club Award.
The Case of the Stinky Stench, 2017 Summer Indie Kids’ Next List Selection, 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards Best Picture Book of the Year Semifinalist.
Mission Defrostable, 2018 Fall Indie Kids’ Next List Selection.
Short & Sweet, 2020 Fall Indie Kids’ Next List Selection, 2020 *Starred Review* from School Library Journal.
The Great Caper Caper, 2022 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Nov/Dec).
Attack of the Scones, 2024 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct).
Whodonut? A Holiday Mystery, 2025 #1 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct).
How to Code a Sandcastle, 2019 ALSC El día de los niños / El día de los libros Selection, 2019 International Literacy Association (ILA) Teacher’s Choice Reading List, 2018 Smithsonian Ten Best Children’s Books, 2018 Summer Indie Kids’ Next List Selection.
It’s Not the Three Little Pigs, 2025 Indiana Library Federation (ILF) Upper Elementary Read Aloud List.
It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood, 2022-23 Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Show Me Readers Award Nominee,2022 Iris Award Shortlist,
2021 Kids’ Book Choice Award Nominee for Favorite Early Reader Series, 2021 Kids’ Book Choice Award Nominee for Best Picture Book Duo.
It’s Not Hansel and Gretel, 2020-21 Michigan Great Lakes Great Books Grades 2-3 Honor Winner,2020 International Literacy Association (ILA) Children’s Choice Reading List.2020 Wisconsin State Reading Association (WSRA) Picture This Recommendation List, 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards Best Picture Book of the Year Semifinalist.
It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk, 2018 Wisconsin State Reading Association (WSRA) Picture This Recommendation List.
Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience and Fortitude, 2020 Mississippi Magnolia State Award Short List, 2020 Wisconsin Golden Archer Award Nominee.

3 Fun Facts

1. I once pet-sit for an elephant.
2. I’ve been to outer space.
3. I lie a lot.

Connor, Leslie

Connor, Leslie

Leslie Connor is the author of the middle grade novels, Crunch, Waiting for Normal, winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award, All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, a finalist for the E.B. White Read Aloud Award, The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle, a National Book Award finalist and winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award, and A Home for Goddesses and Dogs. Leslie’s most recent title is Anybody Here Seen Frenchie? about an unusual pair of devoted friends. She lives with her husband and two rescue dogs in a little house in the Connecticut woods. www.leslieconnor.com

Finalist for the National Book Award
Two-time winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award.

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m surprised that I’m a writer.
2. I eat weird things like peanut butter and pickle sandwiches.
3. I love being upside down.

Roy, Jennifer

Jennifer Roy is the best-selling, multiple award-winning author of YELLOW STAR. Her books MINDBLIND, JARS OF HOPE and PLAYING ATARI WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN also won numerous awards. Roy also co-authored the TRADING FACES series with her twin sister Julia DeVillers. Jennifer‘s latest books are for American Girl, where she and her twin wrote the books for the first historical twin dolls – NICKI and ISABEL! Roy’s books, NICKI’S JOURNAL and MEET ISABEL AND NICKI, were published in February and August 2023, along with the dolls and merchandise they helped envision. Roy lives in Saratoga Springs, New York with her family.

Awards

YELLOW STAR – Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award, New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, National Jewish Book Awards Finalist, School Library Journal Best Book, Sydney Taylor Book Awards Honor Book, ALA Notable Children’s Book, William Allen White Award (Kansas State), Lamplighter Award AudioFiles “Headphones Award” (Recorded Books), and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and School Library Journal. MINDBLIND received a starred review from Booklist and was a ALA/YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults. It was also on numerous state book lists. JARS OF HOPE – Magnolia Book Award. PLAYING ATARI WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN – Sunshine State Young Readers Award Books 2019-2020 List for Grades 6-8 and Bank Street Books Best Children’s Books of the Year.

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m a twin author!
2. I have a rescue pug named Bridget!
3. I love to paint!

Stewart, Melissa

Stewart, Melissa

Melissa Stewart has written more than 200 science books for children. Her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages and garnered such awards as the Sibert Honor, AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books, eighteen NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students, two Green Earth Book Awards, and three ALA Notables. Melissa is a popular presenter at schools and libraries, and her highly-regarded website features a rich array of nonfiction reading and writing resources. www.melissa-stewart.com

Awards

Sibert Honor, AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books, eighteen NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students, two Green Earth Book Awards, and three ALA Notables.

3 Fun Facts

1. I’ve watched hippos, elephants, and zebras trek across the African savanna while riding in a hot air balloon in Kenya.
2. I’ve swum with sea turtles and sea lions in the Galapagos Islands.
3. I walked within inches of a deadly fer-de-lance snake while exploring a tropical rain forest in Costa Rica.

Wallmark, Laurie

Award-winning author Laurie Wallmark writes picture book biographies of women in STEM as well as fiction. Her books have earned five starred trade reviews, been chosen by Junior Library Guild, and received awards such as Outstanding Science Trade Book, Crystal Kite, Cook Prize Honor, and Parents’ Choice Gold Medal. Her titles include Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine, Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code, Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life, Code Breaker, Spy Hunter, Dino Pajama Party, and Her Eyes on the Stars. Laurie has an MFA in Writing from VCFA and is a former software engineer and computer science professor. . You can find Laurie at www.lauriewallmark.com and @lauriewallmark.

Awards
Outstanding Science Trade Book, Best STEM book, Cook Prize Honor Winner, Crystal Kite Winner, Junior Library Guild Selection, Parents’ Choice Gold Medal, Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award

3 Fun Facts

1. I was the only girl in a boys-only architectural drawing class in junior high.
2. My high school principal told me I would never take advanced math classes because I was a girl, but he was wrong.
3. I used to teach computer science to students on campus and also those in prison.